How Do Oxygen Concentrators Work?

 When the first sieve bed is filled with nitrogen, the flow switches to the second molecular sieve bed. The compressor keeps alternating between the two sieve beds to ensure that there is continuous flow of air out of the machine.

The concentrator continues to absorb and compress ambient air into the sieve bed until it is full of the unwanted nitrogen. At this point, a highly flexible switch valve flips over the output channel of the air from the patient’s mask into the second molecular sieve bed, transferring the compressing work to the second sieve bed filter.

Meanwhile, the first molecular sieve empties the collected nitrogen through back-flushing of oxygen from the other sieve bed. This process repeats when the 2nd sieve bed fills. The swapping between the pressure equalizing reservoirs goes on to ensure that there is a constant supply of purified oxygen.

The process of switching between the sieve beds is referred to as Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA). The flow of purified oxygen to the patient is usually controlled using a calibrated flowmeter. The patient can adjust the flow manually to their preferred liters per minute (LPM).
The oxygen concentrator also has a cooling system that prevents the device from overheating. The primary purpose of the cannula/mask is to help improve oxygen absorption.  

Relax, You Can Now Breathe Easier !

Now that you know how an oxygen concentrator works, feel free to talk to your doctor to see if it is the best option for your health needs. You may be surprised to learn that this simple medical device can save you a great deal by increasing your blood oxygen concentration.